Apparatus for marking fruit and similar articles



April 22, 1930. NUTT ET AL 1 APPARATUS FOR MARKING FRUIT AND SIMILARARTICLES Filed Oct. 31, 1928s 4 Sheets-Sheet l F L 11 E 5 jnuenivrs;

5 @Nufi a z 53 6, Ba/rZkoZome w;

April 22, 1930. H. G. NUTT ET APPARATUS FOR MARKING FRUIT AND SIMILARARTICLES Filed Oct. 51, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORN 1 5 April 22,1930. -r ET AL APPARATUS FOR MARKING FRUIT AND SIMILAR ARTICLES FiledOct. 31, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet dCBdrZizgZom 6w .BY ATTOR EYS.

April 22, 1930. H. G. NUTT ET AL 1,755,456

I APPARATUS FOR MARKING FRUIT AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Oct. 51, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 4 1% V EW Invemiors;

Ji /Wait Q 79 6f 67 Bartholomew.

W M 7, ATTORNE S.

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 unrrso sures Parser oer-ice HARRY G. N UTE, OFALTADENA, AND STANLEY C. BARTI-IOLOMEW', OF UPLANDS,1QALI"- FORNIA,ASSIGNORS T0 SCHEU MANUFACTURING COMP-ANY, OF UPLANDS,' CALL FORNIA, ACQRIEOBATIGN OF CALIFORNIA APPARATUS non MARKING rnnrr Ann srMr na narraes Application filed October 31, 1928. Serial No. 316244;.

This invention relates to apparatus for marking or printing suitablenames or identifying marks on fruit and similar articles andparticularly for marking oranges and other fruit whose shape issubstantially spherical.

The main object of the invention is to pro:

Vide an apparatus for this purpose which is simple and positive inoperation,v which will handle a large number of fruit 111 a given time,which will mark each fruit cleanly and distinctly with the desired nameor mark and in which the operation is entirely automatic; A particularobject of the invention is to provide novel means for inking the markingelement. 7 I

Further objects of the invention are:

To provide a device in which the marking element is stationaryduring themarking op. eration and the fruit is rolled over and in direct contactwith such marking element; the

the marking element.

To provide marking means in Which the inipression of the mark upon thefruitis effected by direct contact of the fruit with the markingelement, instead of printing through an inked ribbon as is frequentlydone, and to also provide novel means for inking the marking element bymeans of an inked ribbon between successive marking operations and forfeeding the inked ribbon so as to continually bring a fresh portionthereof into position for inking the markingelement.

To provide a marking element mounted to swing or oscillate betweenmarking position and inking position, and means synchronized with thefeeding of fruit to marking position, for swinging such marking elementfrom marking posit-ion to'inking position and back again betweensuccessive deliveries of fruit to marking position.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. i I Theaccompanying drawings illustrate em bodiments of our invention andreferring thereto:

Fig. is a side elevation of the apparatus with the front of the gearcasing removed. Fig. 2 is a planview thereof. i Fig 3 is a detailed viewof one of the slats of the elevating means, showing one of the fruitreceiving" grooves thereon, said view being taken approximately on line3+3 in Fig. 2. Y i i Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectionof theapparatus taken on line in Fig. 2 Fig, 5 is a plan view of aportion ofthe guide means upon which the'f ruit is delivered to marking position,andis taken in the direction indicated by the arrow 5 in 4:.

Fig. is an end view of said guiding and 'achacent parts taken in thedirection indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig. 4:.

Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation taken from the reverse side of Fig.1, with theig ear case removed. i i

s- 8 s a i f th ma k ng l m nts and inking means therefor taken on line88 in Fig. l, with the guiding means removed. Fig. 9 is a section online S -9 in Fig. 8. Fi i i ing elements and the operating neanst-herefor taken in the direction indicated' bythe in-- row 10 inFig. 9. i i I Fig. 11 is a section on line ll11 in Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is asection on line 12.1,2in Fig; 11. The apparatus comprises side frame memhers 1 between which is mounted a slat elevator Said elevatorcomprisesalternate lifting or elevating slats 3 and guiding or spacingslats 4, which are mounted at their ends on chains 5 running over lowersprockets 6 and upper sprockets 7. The sprocketsfi are secured to shaft8 Which is rotatably mounted between the side frame members 1 andsprockets 7 are mounte up n haft 9 which 10 is a front View of oneof themarkis also rotatably mounted in said frame Inembers but which extendstherethrough and is provided at one end with a gear wheel 10 wh ch sdrlven through gears 11 from pinion 12 secured to sprocket 13, saidsprock t b ing driven at suitable speed by means of electric motor 14,whose shaft 14' is operatively connected thereto by means of pulley 15,belt 16, pulley 17, shaft 17 sprocket 18 and chain 19. A gear case 20may be provided for enclosing the several gears and sprockets of theabove described driving mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1. 7

Each elevating slat 3 is formed with a ridge 21 extending longitudinallyof said slat and transversely to the direction of motion of theelevator, so as to provide a lifting surface 22, upon which the fruitisadapted to rest. Each slat 4, on the other hand, is pro vided with aplurality of V-shaped notches 23 equally spaced at suitable intervalsacross the length thereof and transversely to the motion of theelevator, so as to properly space or guide the fruit. These spacingnotches are shown as being so formed that the bottoms thereof areinclined upwardly in the direction of travel of the elevator so that aseach slat 4 reaches the position in which the fruit is dischargedtherefrom, due to tilting of such slat in passing over the uppersprocket 7, the bottoms of the several notches 23, as indicated at 24 inFig. 4, have substantially the same inclination as the guide meanshereinafter described into which such fruit is so delivered. dischargeof the fruit is retarded until the respective slats 4 reach apositionsubstantially in line with the guide means, and each fruit is caused toroll smoothly and at definite uniform velocity from the elevator ontosaid guide means for the purpose hereinafter described.

The fruit may be fed onto the lower end of the elevator by means of afeeding apron 25 whose lower end portion 26 is hinged as at 27 and isadapted to rest upon the several slats 3 and 4 and to be raised by eachof said slats as it passes thereunder. Upon said hinged portion 26 aremounted a plurality of guiding or distributing bars 28 which are equallyspaced between adjacent notches 23 so as to assist in the distributionof fruit into said notches.

Suitable means are provided for receiving fruit from the upper end ofthe elevator 2 and guiding the same into position to engage the markingelements. comprise a stationary guiding plate 31 inclined slightlydownwardly in the direction of travel of the fruit and provided withcorrugations defining a plurality of guiding channels or runways 32separated by ridges 33. The several channels 32 are arranged in linewith the several sets of guiding notches 23 in the elevator slats 4.Beyond the end of each guiding channel 32 is provided opening 35 inwhich the marking element is presented to engage the fruit in itspassage from said channel. A downwardly inclined board By means of thisarrangement the Such means may 36 may be provided for carrying away themarked fruit.

Above the several guiding channels 32 are provided a plurality ofmechanically driven feedin rollers 37, each preferably provided with alayer 38 of rubber or other resilient material about its periphery. Eachof said rollers is mounted upon a shaft 39 rotatably mounted between theends of the two arms 40 of a swinging yoke. Said arms 40 are mounted toswing vertically and independently about a shaft 41 extending betweenupwardly projecting portions 42 of side frame members 1. Each pair ofsaid arms may be connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 43, uponwhich is mounted a stop member 44 adapted to enga e a stop bar 45secured to the frame, so as to limit the swinging movement of arms 40and prevent the rollers 37 from striking or approaching too closely theguidingmeans 31. A sprocket 46 may be secured to each roller 37 andconnected by driving chain 47 to a sprocket 48, the several sprockets 48being secured to shaft 41, and said shaft is shown as being driven bymeans of the above mentioned sprocket 13 mounted thereon at one end.

Beneath each'of the'marking openings 35 is mounted a marking element 51provided with suitable type of marking members 52 representing theletters or characters to be printed upon'the fruit. Each of such markingelements isfmounted to provide for oscillating or swinging movementthereof between a position within the opening 35 and in line with orslightly abbve the bottom of the corresponding guiding channel 32, and aposition of engagement with suitable inking means. For this purposeeach'marking element 51 may be mounted upon arms 54 and 55 pivotallysecured adjacent the rear and forward ends thereof respectively, and inorder to provide greater stability and smoothness of operation we preferto provide two of the arms 55, one at each side of arm 54; Arm 54 issecured to shaft 56 which is rotatably mounted in supporting brackets 57and provided at one end with gear wheel 58. The arms 55 are connectedbyshaft 59 which is also rotatably mounted in said brackets. Each markingelement and its actuating means, including arms 54 and 55, shafts 56 and59, gear wheel 58, and supporting brackets 57, constitute an independentmarking unit. A shaft 61 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing meansin the side frame members 1 and gear wheels 62 are secured to said shaftin position to mesh with the gear wheels 58 of the respective markingunit. The construction is, therefore, such that each marking unit may beindependently removed and replaced without disturbing. the main shaft 61which serves to operate all of said units.

The shaft 61 extends through the frame at one endand is provided with anarm '64-- 7 said cam, to force said arm in the direction indicated bythe arrow K in Fig. 7. Springs 73 may be secured to the. upper end ofarm 64,so as to tend to. hold said arm and arm 66 in the position shownin Fig; 7 When the parts are in this'position the arm 54 of each markingunit rests against the corresponding shaft 59 as a stop. s

A pad '75- of rubber, felt or other suitable material is mountedin'front of and somewhat belovv each of the marking elements 51 and at suchan inclination that the respective marking elements may be moved bymeans of arms 54 and 55. into aposition upon the upper face of said padsas shown in dotted lines; at 51, in Fig. 9. Suitable means are providedfor moving an inking ribbon over the upper faces of said pads 75 so asto be engaged between the marking element 51 when in said last namedposition and the corresponding pad 75. .The. inking ribbon 7 6, whichmay consist. of an ink-bearing ribbon of cloth, paper or other suitablemedium, may be. mounted upon Windingspools77, and suitable guidingrollers.- 7 8-may be provided for causing such ribbon to pass overthepads 7 5- as stated. The respective spools 7 7 may bexremovably mountedupon shafts at the respectivesi'des. of the apparatus and each of saidspools may be caused to rotate with the corresponding shaft by means ofa pin 81 on collar 82 secured'to said shaft, engaging a suitable openingin the side of'the spool. Each shaft 79 may be rotatably mounted inbearing means .82. and may be provided with a. bevel gear 84: meshingwith a bevel gear 85 on a shaft 86. Each of the shafts 86. is rotatablymounted at its out-er end in bearing means 87 while both of said shaftsproject at their inner ends into a hub portion 88' of ratchet Wheel .89.lllhe hub portion 88 is sufficiently extended lengthwise of saidshafts'to provide a firm. bearing for theinner ends. thereof andmaintain the shafts in proper alignment While permitting; either of saidshafts to rotateindependently of the other. 1

I A collar 92 may be secured each shaft 86 and provided with, a pin 9.3proje ting p radially therefrom. The space between col lars 921is.somewhat greater the length of hub member 88, so. as'to permitmoyementof said huh member longitudinally. of the sh'afts86, and Said hub memberis provided with. a pin 9-4: at each end thereof adapted to.engagethe'pin 93 on the adjacent collar when said huhmember is movedtoward said Collar. In order to move the hub member 8.8 so as to, engageeither one or the other of thef'pins 9-3, an arm 96. on sleeve 97' maybe providedwith a pin 98 engaging groove 99. in said hub member. Saidsleeve, member is secured to shaft... 19-1 which is rotatably mounted inbearing supports 102, and an arm 103,1nay. be secured to the upper endQffsaid shaft and may extend into a suitable positionfto permit manualoperation thereof, so; as to throw the hub member 88 to, one .side orthe, other. A tension spring 104 maybe connected to arm 105 on sleeve97,: so as to hold said hub member in either position to which it ismoved.

' The'ratchetwheel 89 may be operated. by me ns of pawl member lOZprovided at its upperend with a strap 168 engaging eccen.-

trio 109; on the; shaft 61 above mentioned,

the eight of said pawl member serving to hold it in engagement with the.teeth of ratchet Wheel 8-9;.

. The operation of the above described; marks ingapparatus: is follows:Withmotor l lin operation the elevator 2 is driven in the directionindicated by the arrow A in Fig. 4; and the fruit is fedv onto thevfeeding apron 25 anddelivered-ovcr the hinged por: tion26 into.thespaees provided by the respective lifting slats. 3 and the notches 23on the-spacing slatsd, as: indicated at B in Fig.

As, each of the slats 3 and 4 passes undereath the} hinged portion 46 ofthe feeding apron, Such hingedportion, together With thebars28icarriedthereby, is raised. and then permitted toflfall, the resultingoscillatory movement of, the said hinged portion and bars} assisting inthe; uniform distribution of fruit in all of thenotches 23 of eachspacing slat;

The fruit, so deposited in the elevator is raised thereby, each spacingslat discharging thefrjuitcarried thereby ont the guiding means 31',when: said spacing slat is. substan tially in the position shown at C inFig, 4,

and sincethe inclination of the bottom of he several notches-23 is atthat ti-mesubstam tiallythesame as that oftheguiding means, the fruit ispermitted tov roll sinoothl ynnd at a definite; velocity from theelevator onto said guiding; means. The delivery of each fruit to. theguiding; meansv at substantially a fixed velocity is important to.v thesatisfac tory operation of the apparatuses it provides the proper timeinterval between the-time of delivery from the elevator and the time of,assage over the: marking means. 1 p

' The fruit then rolls; in the channels 32; of the gu idinmeans andupon; reaching the position. inc icated at, D. in Fig. 4. each. fruitengages the corresponding feeding roller 37 position and against thecorresponding shaft Which is rotated at a definite velocity by means ofchain 47. The pivotally mounted arms 10 permit each feeding roller 37 tobe raised sufiiciently for passage of the fruit thereunder, and alsopermit the feeding rollers to gravitably engage the fruit-to roll itover the marking means, and the fact that each feeding roller swingsseparately pro vides for satisfactory handling of fruits differingsomewhatas to size in the respective guide channels 32, it beingunderstood that while each apparatus such as that shown will in generalbe supplied only with fruit falling within a certain range of sizes, yetthere will be more or less variation as to size within this range, Thefruit is then carried by the feeding roller 37 out of the guidingchannel 32 and over the corresponding marking element 51 whose inkedtype impress upon the surface offthe fruit the desired letters oridentifying characters, it being noted that the markingelement is heldstationary at this time and the fruit is rolled thereover by the feedingroller 37. The marked fruit then passes onto the board 36 and may bedeli'vered thereby to any suitable positionfor further disposition. Thefruit is, therefore, fedthrough the apparatus in one or morecolumns,'the fruit in each column being first elevated, then guided atdefinite Velocity to the marking means, and finally marked, separatelyfrom the fruit in the other columns;

As each fruit starts down the guiding means 31' at a definite velocityand is then engaged by the pivotally mounted feeding roller 37' andcarriedthereby at definite velocity over themarking'element it will beapparent that the time interval, between the delivery of a fruit fromthe elevator until such fruit passes out of contact with the markingelement, is substantially constant. The cam member 68 is rotated in thedirection indicated by the arrow F in Fig. 7 and the projection 72 ofsaid cam member is so positioned that after the lapse of the abovementioned interval for passage of a fruit over the marking element, saidprojection will engage arm 66 and will operate through said arm, link 65and arm 64 to rotate shaft 61 in the direction indicated by the arrowsGr.

inFigs. 7 and 8. Such shaft in turn operates through gear wheels 62 andthe respective gear wheels 58 to rotate the shafts 56'of the individualmarking elements in the direction indicated by the arrow H in Fig. 9, soas to swing the marking elements into a position of contact with theinking ribbon 7 6, as indicated at 51 in Fig. 9. The type 52 thusreceives a fresh amount of ink and upon further movement of cam 68 theprojection 72 passes out'of engagement with arm 68,

and shafts 61 and 56 are returned to their former positions by springs73, thus returning each, marking element 51 to its marking 59 as a stop.The rapidity of movement of the marking elements 51 from markingposition to inking position andback again is sufficient to permit eachmarking element to be inked and returned between successive passages offruit thereover, and a single marking element is thus required for eachcolumn of fruit passed through the apparatus.

Upon each movement ofrshaft 61 in the direction indicated at G (see Fig.11), the eccentric 109 and strap 108 operate to lift the pawl member 107and move it backward over the teeth on ratchet wheel 89. The subsequentreturn movement of said shaft, over the action of springs 73, operatesthrough said eccentric and strap to force saidpawl member downwardly andcause rotation of ratchet wheel 89, and said ratchet wheel operatesthrough engagement with one or the other of the collars 92 to rotate thecorresponding'shaft 79 and the winding spool 77 carried thereby, so asto wind the inking ribbon 76 from one spool to the other. Each operationof the marking means, therefore, operates to move a fresh portion of theinking ribbon into positionfor engagement with the marking element sothat each time the marking element is lowered tolinking position it isbrought into engagement with a fresh portion of the ribbon, thusinsuring perfect inking of the markingelement. If desired, the directionof feed of the inking ribbon may be reversed by manual operation of arm103, so as to throw the hub member 88 of ratchet wheel 89 to the otherside of the dead center position of spring 104, so as to engage theothercollar 92. i

We claim: e V

1. An apparatus for marking fruit comprising guiding means and means forcausing fruit to pass in a plurality of columns over said guiding means,a single marking element for each such column of fruit, and means formoving each marking element from marking position to inking position andback again between passages of successive fruit in the correspondingcolumn into position of engagement with said marking element.

2. An apparatus for marking fruit comprising downwardly inclined guidemeans means for delivering fruit at definite inter Vals and atsubstantially uniform velocity to the upperend of said guide means, amarking element mountedto oscillate between a marking position forengagement with'fruit leaving said guide means and an inking position,means for inking said marking element upon movement thereof to inkingposition, and means operated in synchronism with the means deliveringfruit to the upper end of said guide means to move said marking elementfrom markingposition to inking position and backagain between successivepassages of fruit in contact therewith.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and comprising in additionfeeding means gravitally engaging the fruit in its passage through saidguide means and operable to roll said fruit over said marking element.

4. In an apparatus for marking fruit a plurality of marking units eachcomprising a marking element, a shaft, afgear wheel on said shaft andmeans operatively connecting said shaft to said marking element to causesaid marking element to oscillate between a marking position and aninking position upon oscillation of said shaft, a main shaft providedwith a plurality of gear wheels meshing with'said gear wheels of therespective markingunits so as to permit independent removal andreplacement of the individual marking units.

5. In an apparatus for marking fruit, downwardly inclined guide means,marking means in position to engage fruit delivered from the lower endof said guide means, and elevating'means for delivering fruit to theupper end of said guide means, said elevating means being provided withalternate lifting and spacing slats, said lifting slats having meansengaging the fruit to lift the same therewith, and said spacing slatshaving spaced recesses whose bottoms are inclined upwardly in thedirection of travel of the elevating means so as to retard the deliveryof fruit from the upper end thereof until the bottoms of said recessesare substantially in line with the upper portion of said guide means.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

HARRY G. NUTT. STANLEY C. BARTHOLOMEWV.

